Government of Canada to assess the environmental effects of marine shipping through the Oceans Protection Plan
News Release
November 24, 2017 Ottawa, ON
Canada has the world’s longest coastline, and our water is one of our most important resources. Canadians across the country rely on marine transportation to go about their everyday life or to deliver products to market in a safe and responsible way.
As we mark the one-year anniversary of Canada’s $1.5 billion Oceans Protection Plan—the largest investment ever made to protect Canada’s coasts and waterways—the Government of Canada is pleased to announce that $9.3 million will be dedicated over five years for the Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping initiative.
Through the Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping initiative, the Government of Canada will work with Indigenous peoples, local stakeholders and coastal communities to better understand Canada’s coastal ecosystems. A new framework will be developed to assess potential cumulative effects of marine shipping on the environment, which will be applied in six pilot areas where marine traffic is significant: Northern and Southern British Columbia, the St. Lawrence River, Quebec, the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, the south coast of Newfoundland, and the eastern arctic, Nunavut.
This information will allow Canada’s marine safety system to be better equipped to support the marine shipping industry and protect the marine environment and coastal communities.
The Oceans Protection Plan is creating a world-leading marine safety system, while preserving our ecosystems, creating strong Indigenous partnerships and engaging coastal communities, and investing in research to ensure decisions are evidence based.
Quotes
“Our Government has taken an additional step to build a world-leading marine safety system that provides economic opportunities for Canadians today, while also protecting our environment and coastlines for the future. The Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping initiative will help ensure marine shipping in Canada is safe, responsible and better prepared to protect the marine environment and coastal communities.”
The Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport
“Partnership and collaboration at the local level is key to the success of Canada’s Oceans Protection Plan. By understanding the cumulative effects of shipping, we will help ensure marine shipping in Canada is safe and managed responsibly. This way, we’ll be better prepared to protect our marine ecosystem and our community.”
Sean Fraser
Member of Parliament for Central NovaJoyce Murray
Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra
Quick Facts
-
Transport Canada’s national cumulative effects assessment framework for marine shipping will identify regionally specific tools to mitigate the effects of existing and future vessel movements on the environment.
-
Transport Canada’s Cumulative Effects of Marine Shipping initiative is complimented by the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program that is led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
-
The Government of Canada has already announced more than $450 million under the Oceans Protection Plan.
Associated Links
Contacts
Delphine Denis
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport, Ottawa
613-991-0700
delphine.denis@tc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
media@tc.gc.ca
Page details
- Date modified: